The monument of matrones conteining seuen seuerall lamps of virginitie, or distinct treatises; whereof the first fiue concerne praier and meditation: the other two last, precepts and examples, as the woorthie works partlie of men, partlie of women; compiled for the necessarie vse of both sexes out of the sacred Scriptures, and other approoued authors, by Thomas Bentley of Graies Inne student.

* ANOTHER. ELIZABETH.

E

ENgraue thy lawes in the depth of my heart, O Lord, that being instructed in thy commande∣ments, I may serue thee in feare, and reioice in thee with trembling, and take hold vpon thy disci∣pline in all things: least at anie time thou become an∣grie, and I perish from the right waie,

Amen.

L

LORD giue me helpe from my trouble: for vaine is the helpe of man, in thee I haue strength, and thou bringest vnto nothing those things which trouble me: let my soule be subiect vnto thee. For from thee proceedeth my patience. For thou art my God and Sauiour, my helper, and I will not depart from thee. In thee is my helth and my glorie, thou art the God of my helpe, and my helpe is in thee,

Amen.

I

I Haue broken thy fold, and wandered long as a lost sheepe: let me returne, O Lord, bicause I haue not forgotten thy commandements. The misdeeds and ignorances of my tender yeers remember not Lord, but according to thy mercie haue mind on me. For thy goodnesse, O Lord, keepe my soule, and deliuer me: let me not be ashamed, bicause I haue trusted in thee. Turne my heauinesse into ioie, cut off my sacke of so∣rowes, and gird me with gladnes, that my glorie may signe vnto thee, and I shall not be greeued.

Z

ZORobabel King of Iuda in the depth of thy dis∣pleasure tasted of thy mercie and receiued by the mouth of Aggeus thy Prophet sweete comfort and knowledge of thy fauour and grace: yea af∣ter thy determination to destroie the whole kingdome of the heathen, thy right hand did preserue him, and thine incomparable mercie did choose him for a seale to thy selfe. Lord, this happie King in thy goodnesse was but an earthlie creature, and then could he haue no righteousnesse in himselfe to moue such thy compassi∣on. If it proceeded from the multitude of thy mercies, that surmount the iniquities of the whole world, and that thou didst onlie vouchsafe to behold in him the i∣mage of thy selfe: bow downe thine eies, Lord, and be∣hold the selfe-same in me. Certifie my conscience with remission of my sinnes, that my sorowfull soule may be at rest within me. Send downe thy holie spirit to remaine with me, that I may become with that good King thy chosen seale and seruant: and so graunt thy people, that I may with them, and they with me, ne∣uer deserue further than to tast of thy rod of fauorable correction: but that all my labours and studies may e∣uer bend to the performance of thy holie will, and dis∣charge of my dutie,

Amen.

A

ARise and illuminate my mind (most benigne Sa∣uiour) that I sleepe not at anie time in death, least mine enimies saie, they haue preuailed a∣gainst me. They which trouble me, will be glad, if I be cast downe: but I haue fixed my hope in thy mercie. Enter not into iudgement with thy seruant, for no liuing creature shall be iustified in thy sight. I will euer looke vpon the Lord, for he shalbe on my right
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hand, that I be not mooued. For this my hart is glad, and my tongue reioiceth, yea moreouer my flesh shall rest in hope,

Amen.

B

BE thou vnto me O Lord in the daie time a defen∣dour, and in the night season a place of refuge, that thou maist saue me: for thou art my strength, and vnto thee I flie. Lord God deliuer me from the hand of sinners, and from the Lawe-breaker, and the wicked dooer: for thou Lord art my patience, thou art my hope, euen from my youth. In thee I am con∣firmed euen from my mothers wombe: thou art my protector, in thee shall be my song for euer and euer,

Amen.

E

EUER my tongue shall be telling of thy rich mer∣cie and woonderous works O Lord, for thou hast caused me to passe through fire and water, and led me into a fresh place; thou hast giuen my soule life, and hast not suffered my feete to fall. According to the multitude of my sorowes, thy comforts haue made my soule merrie. My soule is like a Sparowe taken out of the Fowlers snare. Thou hast deliuered my life from death, and my hands from bloud, that I may please thee O Lord in the light of the liuing,

Amen.

T

THOU art iust, O Lord, and all thy commande∣ments be true; and all thy waies mercie, truth and iudgement. And now Lord be mindfull of me, take not reuengement of my sinnes, remem∣ber not mine offences, neither the offences of my fa∣thers, because we haue not obeied thy precepts. Giue me an hart of vnderstanding, and set thy feare alwaies
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before mine eies, that I may be obedient in word, deed and thought, to all that is thy will. Lord giue vnto me the power of thy holie spirit, to rule and gouerne thy people committed to my charge, in all godlie feare, and knowledge of thy word, and that I may be vnto them an example in all godlinesse and vertue, to the praise of thy holie name,

Amen.

H

HEALE me Lord, and I shall be healed; saue me, and I shall be saued. My life cleaueth vnto the earth. Quicken me according to thy word, according to thy mercie releeue me; and I will keepe the testimonies of thy lips. Helpe me Lord, so shall I be safe, and I will from hencefoorth studie thy righteousnesse. Thy mercies are manie O Lord, according to thy word restore my health,

AMEN.

REGINA.

R

REgard my praiers, O thou God of my life; leaue me not in the thoughts of euill. Deliuer me from the wicked man: let not the foote of pride come vpon me, and to vaine-glorie giue me not. Take from me all sinfull lusts: let no desire of vncleannesse take hold vpon me: giue me not ouer to an vnshame∣fast and obstinate mind, but correct me in thy mercie: for into thy hands I commit me,

E

ENter thy iudgements in the tables of my hart, destroie mine affections with thy loue: send thy wisdome from the holie heauens, and from the seate of thy Maiestie, that she may be with me, and labour with me, that I may knowe what thing is acceptable before thee, and may iudge the people righteouslie, and discerne betweene good and euill.

G

GRatious Lord, thou that art the most high God aboue all the earth, long-suffering, and of much mercie, sorowing the sinnes of man: and of thy great goodnesse hast promised to the penitent re∣mission of sinnes: Lord I haue sinned, mine iniquitie is multiplied aboue the sands of the sea, and there is no hope of life in me, because I haue stirred thee to anger, in multiplieng offences before thee. And now, O Lord, trusting in thy mercie, I bow the knees of my hart, beseeching thee of thy goodnesse, destroie me not togither with mine iniquitie. For the dead, whose soules are out of their bodies, can neither praise nor thanke thee: but the sorowfull hart, and the thirstie soule ascribe praise vnto thee. O Lord, I powre my praiers before thee, and require mercie in thy sight; saue me which am vnwoorthie, and reserue not eter∣nall punishment for mee. For thine owne sake I aske it, and will praise thee all the daies of my life,

Amen.

I

ILluminate my hart, O Lord, with the light of thy word: leade me Lord in thy waie, and I shall enter into thy truth. Print thy feare in my hart, that I may reioice in thee. Let thy word be a lanterne vn∣to
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my feet, and a lampe of light vnto my paths, so shall I not erre from the right waie: but walke like a pure and wise virgin with an vpright hart, chaste mind, and cleane conscience, and single eie before thee this daie and euermore,

Amen.

N

NEuer will I cease to call vpon thee, most migh∣tie God of hosts, which sittest vpon the Cheru∣bins, and hast dominion ouer all the kingdoms of the earth. Thou which madest the heauens, & all things comprehended in them, bow downe thine eare and heare, open thine eies and behold: saue mee from the hand of mine aduersaries, suffer no euill to happen vnto me, that all the people may knowe that thou alone art my God,

Amen.

A

ASsist mee, O Lord my God, with thy heauenlie grace, and renew in mee a right spirit, that I may receiue strength & ablenesse to doo thy righ∣teous will, and to stand against all the assaults of wilie Satan, that they may haue no place in mee: but that the old man, which I beare about in my bo∣die, may be crucified, and dailie die in me, that the de∣sire of sinne, errour, and of worldlie vanities may vt∣terlie be destroied, that I may euermore be renewed in the spirit of my mind, that the life of my Sauiour Christ may alwaies appeare in me: to whome with the Father, and the holie Ghost, be all honour, triumph and glorie, for euer and euer,